hubbard



Jan. 21, 1964 J. L. HUBBARD 3,118,293

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING PILE FORMATION Filed June 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JOHN L HUBBARD B :T M JWTORZY Jan. 21, 1964 J. 1.. HUBBARD 3,

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING PILE FORMATION Filed June 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGZZ INVENTOR JOHN L. HUBBARD ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1964 J. HUBBARD 3,113,293

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING PILE FORMATION Filed June 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 3l2 I? \314 40 F I \Z INVENTOR JOHN L HUBBARD ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1964 J. L. HUBBARD PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING PILE FORMATION Filed June 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR n k g JOHN L HUBBARD ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1964 J. 1.. HUBBARD 3,118,293

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING PILE FORMATION Filed June 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 was INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,118,293 PATTERN MECHANlSh/l FOR CONTRULLING PZLE FQRMATEGN John L. Hubbard, Qornwall on the Hudson, N.Y., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Mohasco Industries, Inc, Amsterdam, N.i(., a corporation of New York Filed June 9, 1961, Ser. No. 116,134 12 Claims. (Cl. lid-84) This invention relates to a pattern mechanism for controlling the pile formation on a fabric and more particularly to a pattern mechanism including solenoid operated means for producing different heights of individual pile loops in a fabric.

The pattern mechanism of this invention is quite useful as an attachment for pile fabric making machines wherein each sep rate pile loop is formed by an individual hook. This mechanism is primarily intended for use on a knitting machine of the warp or flat bed type but obviously is not limited thereto.

Various types of pattern mechanisms have been developed for producing pile loops in fabrics made on knitting machines. The pattern mechanism of this invention is especially useful on knitting machines wherein the needles reciprocate horizontally, such as described in US. Patent Nos. 2,136,236 and 2,236,994. Although the machines described in these patents are not designed for the production of pile fabrics, the pattern mechanism of this invention together with suitable pile hooks may be associated with the machine to change it over to a knitting machine for making pile fabrics wherein the pile loops may vary in height. One well known method of producing knitted pile fabrics employs stationary wires over which pile yarn is fed, back and forth, and is then bound in by means of chain stitches as illustrated in US. Patent No. 2,802,355.

Briefly, the pattern mechanism of this invention comprises a pattern drum rotatably supported and turning in timed relation to the knitting machine cycle. This pattern drum elec rically controls a plurality of solenoids, one solenoid for each pile hook. A flexible connector ex tends between each solenoid and its respective striker to control the movement of its respective hook, thereby producing pile loops of different heights.

In view of the above, it is an object of this invention to provide a pattern mechanism for controlling the pile formation in a pile fabric.

it is another object to provide a pattern mechanism which is universal in nature so that it is adaptable as an attachment for use on various types of pile fabric producing machines.

it is yet another object to provide a pattern mechanism particularly adapted for use on a warp or flat bed type of lmitting machine for controll ng the formation of pile loops on the knitted fabric.

A further object is the provision of a pattern mechanism which includes means for individually controlling the pile hooks thereby controlling the pile formation.

A still further object is the provision of a pattern mechanism having a rotatable pattern drum which controls a plurality of solenoids each of which individuflly controls the movement of a single pile yarn hook.

Yet another object is the provision of a pattern mechanism having pattern means controlling a plurality of solenoids individually connected to a plurality of strikers adapted to engage and move individual pile hooks varying distances to produce pile loops of ditferent heights.

it is another object to provide a pattern mechanism which may selectively control movement of the pile hooks so as to cause them to not engage the pile yarn and thereby leave the pile yarn embedded in the fabric.

The above and other objects and advantages of this in- "ice vention will become apparent in view of the following detailed description and drawings, showing by way of eX- ample a preferred embodiment, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a flat bed knitting machine embodying this invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the machine of FIGURE 1 with some of the conventional elements omitted for purposes of better illustrating the invention,

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 2 with some of the conventional components left off for the purposes of better illustrating the invention,

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the pile hook assembly together with its associated mechanism in co-operation with the striker assembly, and

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the pattern drum and the means for mounting same.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 the pattern mechanism of this invention is particularly suitable and adaptable for use on a somewhat conventional flat bed knitting machine.

The machine framework it? mounts a main drive shaft 12. carrying a pulley assembly 14 connected by suitable means to motor 16. Shaft 12 at one end mounts bevel gears 18 and 2A) which mesh with bevel gears 22 and 24, respectively carried on shafts 26 and 28.

A needle bed Bil extends transversely of the framework ill and is supported by needle bed bracket 32 secured to the machine framework. The needle bed 3% is formed with a plurality of spaced parallel needle guides 34 with latch needles 3%? reciprocally carried therein. The needles 36 are reciprocated in their guides 34 by a needle return pull bar 38 secured across the needle bed in engagement with the needles. This return pull bar 33 is secured to needle driver bar it) by means of bracket 42. Needle driver bar 46 is connected to slide bar 44 by pin it and is slidably carried by hearing block 43 mounted on shaft 12. Slide bar 44 carries cam follower Sit) which rides in cam groove 52 in needle drive cam 54 secured to shaft 12. Rotation of cam 54 through this linkage serves to reciprocate the needles 36 in the proper timed sequence.

The jute yarn $9 employed in this machine to provide a component of the fabric base is fed down through jute yarn tubes 6t mounted on jute tube support bar as reciprocally carried by upper and lower guides 64- and 66 respectively. These jute tubes to are positioned vertically and thus a e generally perpendicular to the needle bed 3t).

The pile yarn 69 employed in this machine to provide the pile loops is fed down through vertically extending pile yarn tubes '70 mounted on pile yarn tube bar '72 reciprocally carried by upper and lower guides '74 and '76, respectively. The jute tube bars 62 and the pile yam tube bar 72 are generally parallel and thus the tubes are also parallel.

Warp yarn guide carrier has a plurality of guides 82 secured thereto in spaced relation lengthwise thereof. The guides 82 face and are spaced from the nose of needle bed 38. The carrier 8%} is oscillatably mounted on shaft 84 by means of bracket 86. For oscillation of the carrier 8% about shaft 84, arm 83 is secured to said shaft and its outer end is fastened to rod 99 whose other end is secured to plate 92 carrying cam pin 94 actuated by cam 96 fastened on rotating shaft 97. Spring 98 is fastened to the machine frame at one end and to bracket 1% at the other. This bracket is mounted on and secured to the shaft 84, and thus serves to exert a positive pressure on rod 9% thus causing cam pin 92 to always engage cam 96. Shaft 97 receives rotational power through bevel gear 102 which meshes with bevel gear 104 carried on shaft 26.

The jute tube support bar 62 is reciprocated in its guides 64 and do by cam means 110 actuated by shaft 28 which derives its power from main drive shaft 12. Likewise, the pile yarn tube bar 72 is reciprocated in guides 74 and 76 by cam means 112 actuated by shaft 28.

V The warp carrier shaft 34 is reciprocated by means of warp cam 14d carried on shaft 26. Warp cam follower 116 is mounted between warp cam T44 and warp carrier shaft 84 to impart reciprocatory movement to the shaft. A return spring 118 is secured at one end to the shaft 84 and at the other to the machine framework.

The hook mounting assembly 1359 is carried on rear hook shaft 132 which in turn is connected to arm 134- whose other end is mounted on front hook shaft 136. A bracket 13% is connected to the end of arm 13d mounted on shaft 136 and in turn is connected to a cam operating mechanism of the same type illustrated for oscillating the warp carrier bracket. This cam mechanism has been omitted to avoid confusion in the drawing. Thus the hook mounting assembly 134 is oscillated about a front hook shaft 13s so that the hooks may engage the pile yarn and pull it down a specific distance in accordance with the cam setting used. A spring lever tee is rigidly secured to bracket 138 and through spring 142 serves to cause the hook mounting assembly to return to a predetermined position.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the striker mounting assembly 150 is pivotally carried on shaft 152 and is oscillated about this shaft by arm 154 secured thereto and which in turn is connected to cam rod 156 secured to cam plate 158 mounting cam follower let? riding on cam 162 mounted on shaft 16 3;

Referring to FIGURE 4, the hook mounting assembly 136 comprises a support block 1&6 separable along line 163 for purposes of assembly and having a transverse hole 17%) adapted to fit over rear hook shaft 132. The flat top portion of the support block 366 carries a base plate 172 having a transversely extending, upright hook guide bar 174 secured across one end thereof and a spacer and anchor bar 176 positioned across the other end parallel to the hook guide bar 174. The book guide bar 174 has a plurality of vertically extending parallel hook guides 178 in which books such as hook 18d slide up and down in accordance with the pattern mechanism setting and the cam mechanism which oscillates the hook mounting assembly 136 about front hook shaft 136. The upper face of the hook guide bar has a groove 182 which mounts a hook guard plate 184 useful in preventing the hooks from engaging any such yarn as may be below the level of those yarns which extend from jute yarn guide bar 62; The spacer and anchor bar 176 has a plurality of slots 186 aligned with hook guides 178. A groove 188 having a semi-cylindrically shaped bottom extends across the anchor bar directly behind and in communication with slots 186.

The book assembly comprises a hook portion 199 having a downwardly extending flattened portion 192 which rides in guides 178. The flattened portion 192 is secured to sliding key 194 which in turn is pinned to hook lever 196 by pin 1%. The other end of book lever 196 is provided with a fulcrum member 200 having a curvature closely conforming to'that of groove 188 in which it rests. Intermediate the ends of the hook lever 196 there is an upright contact button 2&2 which is the element contacted to provide additional hook movement under the pattern contact mechanism.

The hook assemblies are assembled in the hook mounting assembly by positioning each flat portion 192 in its respective guide 178 and placing the hook lever 196 in its respective slot 186 in alignment with its respective guide so that the fulcrum member 2% will smoothly pivot in groove 188. When all of the hook assemblies are in position a retaining bracket 294 is secured to anchor bar 176 by suitable screw means 296 to hold the fulcrum end of'the hook levers in position. A retaining bar 268 of dovetail cross-section tits in an appropriately formed slotted portion 21d in the hook guide bar 174 to hold the hooks in position. A hook return spring 212 has one end secured to hook spring plate 214 and the other to the hook ey 194.

The striker mounting assembly 150 comprises arm 22% pivotally carried on shaft 152. This other end of the arm is secured to striker bar 221 which has a plurality of slots 222 opening out into the lower face thereof. These slots are spaced so as to be aligned with the hook levers as assembled in the hook mounting assembly. The upper portion of the striker bar is cut out to form an offset portion 224 running the entire length of the striker bar. The striker bar also has a flange portion 226 raised above the olfset 22 and co-extensive therewith.

The striker 236 comprises a horizontal bar-like portion 232 with a downwardly extending striker head portion 234 on one end and an upwardly extending flange portion 236 on the other end. The strikers are assembled in the striker bar slots 222 with their striker head portion 234 facing downwardly in the direction of the contact buttons 262. The strikers are slidably held in these slots by means of a dovetailed keeper bar 238 fitting in an appropriately shaped longitudinal slot in the bottom portion of the striker bar 221. A return spring 242 is secured to flange 236 of each striker and to the striker bar flange 226 to thereby hold the striker in position with its flange portion 236 in engagement with the corresponding vertical face 24-2 of the striker bar.

As will be apparent from FIGURE 4 of the drawings the striker bar 221 is mounted so that the strikers 23% are in alignment with the hook levers and more particularly so that the striker portion 234 of each striker will be in alignment with its respective contact button 2%52.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the strikers are actuated by means of flexible connectors 25%} attached at one end to the striker portion 236 and at the other end to a solenoid 252. The flexible connectors 250 are fed through a guide bar 254 positioned directly in horizontal line with the strikers. The solenoids are controlled by a pattern mechanism which opens and closes the circuits to the solenoids.

Referring to FTGURE 2, 3 and 5 the mechanism for controlling the solenoids 252 comprises a pattern drum generally designated 26th This drum has as many peripheral rows 261 of holes 262 as there are books in the machine. The number of holes per peripheral row is equal to at least one complete pattern. In other words if the paiticular'pattern being reproduced requires a given number of courses then there must be at least this number of holes in each peripheral row on the pattern drum. The function of the pattern drum is to make and break the circuit to the solenoids. As previously mentioned there is a peripheral row of holes in the drum for each hook and there is a solenoid for each respective row of holes and associated hook.

7 Pattern drum contact fingers 2-64 are pivotally mounted on cross bar 266 and biased down against the surface of the drum by springs 268. Obviously, there is a contact finger for each peripheral row of holes. The fingers are electrically connected by a wire 27% to a connector block 272 from which a wire 274 extends to each respective solenoid 252. A line 276 extends from the other side of each solenoid to a common connector 277 and thence by line 275 to one side of the power supply.

The other side 28% of the powersupply connects with pattern switch 282 which has a contact arm 284 engageable by the raised portion on earn 2% to open and close the power supply to the pattern circuit so that the power will not be supplied to the pattern drum circuit during the notch-up motion and thereby prevent arcing. A line 283 extends from switch 282 to pattern drum main contact 299 which engages the surface of the drum to complete the electrical circuit.

In order to break the circuit and thereby not energize a given solenoid, a nylon screw 292 is inserted in the re spective hole in a given peripheral row of the drum thus when the contact finger contacts this nylon screw it will be raised and thus open the circuit to the respective solenoid. Obviously, any other type of suitable type of nonconductor could replace the nylon screw.

The pattern drum 260 is rotatably carried by end shafts 294 and 295 mounted in suitable bearing block assemblies 296. One of these shafts is connected to a notch-up mechanism 298 actuated by rod 3% reciprocated by cam means on the main drive shaft 12. As best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5, the notch-up mechanism 298 conprises a pair of toothed wheels 301 and 392 splined onto shaft 2% with their teeth directed in opposite directions and having pawl assemblies 394 and 306 to engage their toothed Wheels. A U-shaped bracket 3&8 fits around wheel 302 and is pivotally carried on shaft 295. The open end of the bracket is pivotally connected to rod 3% whose upper end is provided with a plate 31%} having an aperture 312 through which main drive shaft 12 passes. Pattern notch-up cam 314 is secured to shaft 12 and is engaged by cam follower 315 on plate 310 to vertically reciprocate rod 30% and thereby oscillate bracket 398 about shaft 295. Bracket 308 is provided with a spring biased pawl 316 which engages the toothed portion of wheel 302 to thereby step by step rotate shaft 295 and the pattern drum 260 as the bracket is oscillated by the cam mechanism.

It is felt that the operation of this pattern arrangement is obvious from the preceding description, however, a brief summary will undoubtedly crystallize the matter. As previously stated it is the purpose of this invention to provide a pattern mechanism for forming pile loops of different heights particularly in a knitted pile fabric. The forming of pile loops of different heights is accomplished by having the striker head portion 234 aligned with the hook lever button 202 so that pivoting of the striker assembly 156 about shaft 152 will cause striker head portion 234 to engage hook lever button 262 and depress the hook lever and the hook secured thereto thereby pulling the pile loop down an additional amount. Of course, in this arrangement the solenoid associated with the given striker is not energized. This is accomplished by use of a nylon screw 292 fitting in the respective hole in the pattern drum Zll to engage to lift the respective contact finger 254- out of engagement with the drum surface thus breaking the circuit. When it is desired to form a pile loop of lesser height there is no nylon screw placed in the particular hole in the pattern drum consequently the respective solenoid is energized thereby retracting the flexible connector and pulling the striker rearwardly so that its head portion 234 will not engage the respective hook lever contact button 2%2 thus there will be no added movement of this particular hook when the striker assembly 15 3 is pivoted about shaft 152.

In addition to the above it is possible to produce a knitted fabric using this pattern arrangement wherein the pile yarn is embedded in the fabric rather than raised. This is accomplished by changing the timing on the cam mechanism which pivots the striker assembly 150 about shaft 152 and not energizing the solenoid thereby allowing the striker head portions 234 to remain in alignment with respective hook lever contact buttons 262. The timing is so changed that the striker assembly is pivoted before the operation of the hook lever and its mounting. This causes the striker to depress the hook before it engages the pile yarn. Consequently no pile loop is formed because the hook cannot reach the pile yarn. In other words, the striker depresses the hook lever so that the hook cannot reach the pile yarn.

it is readily apparent that the patterns that may be produced involving different pile heights are numerous, and further the only limitation is the drum diameter and the number of holes that can be placed in any given peripheral band, each hole representing one course of knitting and each longitudinal row of holes in the drum being numerically equal to the rows or wales in the fabric and, of course, the hooks in the machine.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, a pile forming mechanism for making relief type designs, said mechanism comprising a hook guide bar, said hook guide bar having a plurality of parallel guides therein, a plurality of hooks carried in the guides, a hook lever connected to each hook, a striker bar pivotally mounted transversely of the hook levers, strikers reciprocably carried on the striker bar in alignment with each book lever, said strikers being adapted to engage each respective hook lever, and a control system for selectively reciprocating the strikers thereby deter-minim which strikers engage the hook levers to move the hooks different distances to produce pile loops of different heights.

2. A pile forming mechanism for making pile loops of different heights, said mechanism comprising a plurality of hooks, a hook lever connected to each hook, strikers mounted for selected engagement with each hook lever, and an electrical pattern control system for selectively causing the strikers to engage specific hook levers to move these hooks difierent distances to produce pile loops of different heights.

3. The invention as described in claim 2 and wherein the electrical control system comprises electrical switching means selectively controlling power means for causing selected strikers to each engage their respective hook lever.

4. A pile forming mechanism for making pile loops of different heights, said mechanism comprising a hook guide bar, said hook guide bar having a plurality of parallel guides therein, a plurality of hooks reciprccably carried in said guides, a hook lever connected to each hook, a striker bar mounted transversely of the hook levers, strikers reciprocably carried on the striker bar in alignment with the hook levers, said strikers being adapted to engage each respective hook lever, means for reciprocating each striker and electrical switching means for controlling aforesaid means to selectively reciprocate the strikers and thereby determine which strikers engage the hook levers to move the hooks different distances to produce pile loops of different heights.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 and wherein the means for reciprocating each striker comprises a solenoid and flexible connector linking each striker with its respective solenoid operator.

6. The invention as described in claim 5 and wherein the electrical switching means comprises a pattern drum rotated in timed sequence with the knitting operation, said drum having conducting and non-conducting portions, and contact members in circuit with the solenoids engaging these pattern drum portions to selectively energize the solenoids and thereby reciprocate the respective strikers.

7. A pile forming mechanism for making pile loops of different heights, said mechanism comprising a hook guide bar, said hook guide bar having a plurality of parallel guides there-in, an anchor bar spaced from and parallel to the hook bar, a plurality of hooks mounted for vertical reciprocation in the hook bar guides, a hook lever connected to each hock, said hook levers being pivotally supported by the anchor bar, a striker bar pivotally mounted transversely of the hook levers, strikers reoiprocably carried in the striker bar in aligmnent with each hook lever, said strikers being adapted to engage their respective hook levers, means for reciprocating each striker md electrical switchin means for controlling aforesaid means to selectively reciprocate the strikers and thereby cause selected strikers to engage the respective hook levers and thereby cause the selected hooks to move different distances to produce pile loops of a height different from those formed by hooks not so engaged.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 and wherein the means for reciprocating the strikers comprises a solenoid for each striker and a flexible connector linking each striker W' its respective solenoid.

9. A pie forming mechanism for making pile loops of different heights, said mechanism comprising a pinrality of hooks mounted for reciprocation, a plurflity of strikers mounted in alignment with the hooks, said strikers being adapted to engage their res ective hooks, 385113 for moving a striker into engagement with its respective hook and moving said hook a predetermined amount to produce a pite loop of given height and electrical switching means for controlling the striker moving m s to selectively move given hooks to produce the tit ng machine, a pile forming mechanism i .ef type designs, said mechanism comprising a pivo lly mounted hook assembly having a hook guide her, said hook guide bar having a plurality of parailel uidcs therein, a piur-ali-ty of books reciprocably carried in these g nides, a hook lever connected to each hook, a pivotally mounted striker assembly positioned ent the hook assembly, said striker assembly comg a striker bar mounted transversely of the hook levers, strikers rec proca oly carried on the striker bar in alignment with each hook lever, said strikers being adapted to engage each respective hook lever, means for moving the strikers into en agement with the hook levers and to move the book a predetermined distance thereby forming a pile loop of prescribed height and a control system for selecting which strikers engage the hook levers.

11. The invention as described in claim 16 and inclu ing means for pivoting the hook assembly and striker assembly in sequence and in timed relation to the knitting cycle.

12. The invention as described in cl-aim 11 and ein the striker assembly may be pivoted prior to pivot 11g of the hook assembly to thereby cause selected strikers to engage and move down such hook levers so as to cause. the hooks not to engage their respective pile yarns thus cause the piie yarn to be embedded in the fabric base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,944,413 Rice July 12, 1960 2,991,738 Zenner et al. July 11, 19 61 3,0Gl,388 MacCaffray Sept. 26, 1961 3,019,625 Hubbard Feb. 6, 1962 

1. IN A KNITTING MACHINE, A PILE FORMING MECHANISM FOR MAKING RELIEF TYPE DESIGNS, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING A HOOK GUIDE BAR, SAID HOOK GUIDE BAR HAVING A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL GUIDES THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF HOOKS CARRIED IN THE GUIDES, A HOOK LEVER CONNECTED TO EACH HOOK, A STRIKER BAR PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TRANSVERSELY OF THE HOOK LEVERS, STRIKERS RECIPROCABLY CARRIED ON THE STRIKER BAR IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH HOOK LEVER, SAID STRIKERS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE EACH RESPECTIVE HOOK LEVER, AND A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SELECTIVELY RECIPROCATING THE STRIKERS 